Introduction to Business

Introduces the history of business and economic systems in America. Covers the structure of business organizations by taking students through each of the functional areas of business: management, marketing, finance and accounting. The purpose of the class is to familiarize students with basic business principles and concepts through the use of terminology and examples. Students will also become familiar with the major sections of a basic business plan and the key elements found in each section.Prerequisites: RD30 or RD90 and WR30 or WR90, or designated placement test scores.

Ready, Set, Work: Techniques for Landing a Job

Prepares students for employment by focusing on resume, cover letter, and application preparation; interview presentation; job search techniques; work ethic and professional image; interpersonal relationships; and business etiquette in the workplace. Students are expected to have completed most of their coursework toward a certificate or degree program before enrolling in this class. All students, both in-class and online, must complete an in-person, panel interview to pass the class (telephone or video-conferencing interviews do not meet this requirement).Prerequisites: BA131 or CS120 and BT113 or WR115.

Payroll and Tax Procedures

Emphasizes understanding of the federal and state payroll laws and regulations, calculating earnings and deductions, preparing payroll records, understanding and preparation of federal and state payroll tax deposits and tax returns, and accounting for payroll.Prerequisites: BA131, BA211 or BT151; BA285 or CS125SS recommended. Offered winter and spring terms.

Cooperative Work Experience/Business

Cooperative Work Experience is an educational program that enables students to receive academic credit for on-the-job, experiential learning based on skills acquired in their program. Together, the instructor, employer, and student establish learning objectives that specify the significant and appropriate learning which is expected to result from the work experience. This course offers a career-related experience for students working for an approved employer. As a capstone course, students should complete this course within the last two terms of their certificate. Note: This course will not fulfill the Cooperative Work Experience requirement on the two-year Business Technology AAS degree.Prerequisites: BA109 and permission of CWE instructor.

Special Studies: Business

Management Fundamentals

Emphasis is on the four functions of management (planning, organizing, directing and controlling) from a socially responsible and ethical view. Students will be able to distinguish among different types of plans, develop mission statements, set goals and objectives, design an organizational structure and recognize staffing and training issues. Exposure to motivation and leadership theories, managing human resources, working in teams, and evaluation of the planning process are included.Prerequisites: BA101; BT101 and BT102 recommended. Offered winter term.

Business Communications

Focuses on planning, creating, writing, and revising typical business documents such as letters, memos, reports, and presentations using current communication technologies (word processing, spreadsheets, graphical presentations, email, and the Internet). Understanding the purpose of communication in business is also covered. Use of word processing software for in-class/online assignments and examinations is required.Prerequisites: BA131 or CS120, BT114 or WR121, Internet access and working email account; LIB127 (may be taken concurrently); CS125WW recommended. Offered fall, spring and summer terms.

Human Resource Management

Builds on the information contained in BT101 and BT102. Introduces traditional, current and emerging human resource management (HRM) practices. Students will develop practical and realistic approaches to HRM by focusing on the functions of a human resources department and the responsibilities of a human resources director. Students will be able to assess HRM skills; describe current best practices in HRM; explain the process of selecting, placing and training employees; explain how diversity is managed in the workplace; prepare employee performance appraisal tools; tie compensation to performance; describe minimum health and safety measures required to protect employees; and explain how to effectively deal with labor unions.Prerequisites: BT101 or PSY101 and BT113 or WR115; BT102 and BA206 recommended. Offered winter term.

Business Law

Presents a brief introduction to the American legal system, structure of state and federal court systems, pertinent business legislation, Uniform Commercial Code, and obligations arising from tort law. Emphasis on formation, performance, discharge, and interpretation of contracts. Third party contracts, warranties, and product liability issues are also covered.Prerequisites: BT114 or WR121.

Computer Accounting Applications

Covers the application of integrated software (QuickBooks) as an accounting tool in service and merchandising companies. Includes general ledger, accounts receivable, accounts payable, inventory, and payroll. Emphasis is on incorporating knowledge of manual accounting into a computerized system.Prerequisites: BA131 and BA211 or BT151. Offered fall and spring terms.

Social Media Marketing

Covers the basics of social media marketing, creating online conversations through social media outlets, social media strategy, branding through social media sites, value in the organization's content, aligning offline marketing strategies with social media, and why a social media consultant may be a viable solution to social media goals.Prerequisites: BT114 or WR121, RD30 or RD90, or designated placement test scores; BA223 recommended. Offered spring term.

Retail Management

Introduces students to the field of retailing and provides an understanding of the types of businesses, strategies, operations, formats and environments through which retailing activities are carried out. Course takes a multi-disciplinary approach to consider the process and structure of retailing. Topics include planning, research, consumer behavior, store design and layout, merchandising strategy, management strategy, promotional strategy, and pricing strategy. Students will be able to discuss the overall importance of retailing and how it fits into the marketing environment, understand who the retail customer is, and apply the “four Ps” of marketing to the retail sector.Prerequisites: BA101; BT114 or WR121 and RD30 or RD90, or designated placement test scores; BA223 recommended. Offered fall term.

Cooperative Work Experience/Business

Cooperative Work Experience is an educational program that enables students to receive academic credit for on-the-job, experiential learning based on skills acquired in their programs. Together, the instructor, employer, and student establish learning objectives that specify the significant and appropriate learning which is expected to result from the work experience. This course offers a career-related experience for students working for an approved employer. As a capstone course, it should be completed within the last two terms of a certificate or degree program.Prerequisites: BA109 and permission of Business Technology CWE instructor.

Applied Business Statistics

Builds on the basic knowledge and skills learned in MTH243 and utilizes spreadsheet skills gained in BA285. Students will use Excel extensively to solve statistical problem. Emphasis is on the understanding and application of hypothesis testing, analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation and regression, and Chi-square techniques. Designed to provide students with analytical skills they will need in upper-division business courses including accounting, finance, operations management and applied research. Dual numbered as MTH244.Prerequisites: RD30 or RD90, BA131 or CS120, and MTH243; BA285 or CS125SS recommended. Offered winter, spring and summer terms.

Advanced Business Applications: Excel

Course is designed for students in any discipline. Includes hands-on approach to develop a competency in basic and advanced concepts and commands of spreadsheet software. Students will learn to design, set up, and print a variety of spreadsheet applications. Microsoft Excel will be used to develop materials. Emphasis will be placed on using spreadsheet data for problems analysis. Dual numbered as CS125SS.Prerequisites: CS120 or BA131 and MTH65 or BT160.

Introduction to Supervision

Builds on information covered in BT101. Focuses on skills and techniques for current and potential supervisors with emphasis on day-to-day strategies that first-line managers use when directing and evaluating employees.Prerequisites: RD30 or RD90 and BT113 or WR115, or designated placement test scores, and BT101. Offered fall and spring terms.

Business Ethics

Business ethics are important skills in the business environment. Developing the ability to recognize and analyze ethical situations is becoming more critical for successful business organizations. This course explores the multi-level effects of business decisions, emphasizing contemporary topics in business ethics. Panel discussions, article reviews, role-playing, guest speakers, and case studies are used to develop skills in recognizing and resolving ethical issues in business.Prerequisites: RD30 or RD90 and BT113 or WR115, or designated placement test scores. Offered fall, spring and summer terms.

Advertising

Provides insight into the role of advertising and integrated brand promotion. Each specific advertising medium will be covered in detail. Both traditional and emerging advertising media will be covered.Prerequisites: RD30 or RD90 and BT113 or WR115, or designated placement test scores; BA223 recommended. Offered winter term.

Conflict Management

Provides students with the skills to turn conflict into a positive experience. Students will identify what conflict is, positive and negative aspects of conflict, types and sources of conflict, and strategies in dealing with conflict. Through the use of self-assessment instruments, students will identify their personal conflict management style(s). Other topics include emotional aspects of conflict, determining which approaches to conflict management are overutilized and underutilized, and stress and anger management strategies used in conflict management.Prerequisite: BT113 or WR115 or designated placement test score.

Business English I

Gives students a firm and thorough foundation in the fundamentals of business writing by focusing on grammar basics, mechanical skills in writing, sentence structure, proofreading and editing skills, and vocabulary development. The course surveys the basic conventions, purposes, and strategies of standard written English, and therefore develops students’ confidence in their own ability to write effectively at the college level. Students are given extensive practice in these areas, applying what they have learned to typical business situations, language, and formats. Special attention is given to paragraph and essay development.Prerequisites: RD30 or RD90 and WR30 or WR90, or designated placement test scores. Offered fall, spring and summer terms.

Business English II

Increases student proficiency in writing clear, well-developed, well-organized, articulate business messages, with emphasis on advanced grammar application, proofreading, and business research. This course teaches advanced grammar concepts, reinforcing knowledge of sentence structure, basic paragraph and essay development and organization, basic punctuation, verbal phrases, redundancies, consistency in verb tense, pronoun agreement, subject/predicate agreement, parallel structure, and advanced uses of punctuation. In addition to strengthening grammar skills, students will apply those skills to a second objective: developing proficiency in writing clear, detailed, and organized expository prose. Students will be given frequent practice in crafting a topic sentence or thesis, targeting an audience, developing a message, and persuading an audience. Additionally, students will gain research practice with APA citation format.Prerequisites: BT113; LIB127 and BA131 (may be taken concurrently); CS125WW recommended. Offered fall, winter and spring terms.

Digital Marketing and e-Commerce

Introduces the use of the Internet to improve business profit through e-Commerce. Includes an introduction to the World Wide Web, e-business ideas, e-business planning, legal issues, Web design, security issues, evaluation of the e-business optimal product, e-marketing, payment options, using the Internet for alternative sources of supply, competitive intelligence, setting up a mall storefront, e-customer service, and creating the virtual storefront. Applies the “four Ps” of marketing to online and/or existing “bricks and mortar” businesses, while determining strategies on how to best use the Internet to improve customer relations. A special focus will be given to search engine optimization.Prerequisites: BT113 or WR115 and BA131 or CS120. Offered winter term.

Business Math

Introduces math applications used in business including percentages, fractions, interest (compounding, present value, future value), and other common business applications. A Texas Instruments BA II Plus or TI-83/84 calculator is recommended.Prerequisites: MTH20 and RD30 or RD90, or designated placement test scores.

Customer Service

Introduces students to the concepts of exceptional customer service (from the top down) in order to attract and retain customers and maximize profits. Customer loyalty, principles of quality customer service, service recovery, attitudes and habits that affect service, dealing with difficult customers, active listening to determine customer needs, effective communication, communication with a diverse customer population, hiring/motivating/and training service people, performance-enhancing feedback, and measurement of service performance will be covered. Useful for employees in all professions that deal with serving customers.Prerequisites: BT101 or PSY101 and BA131 or CS120; BT113 or WR115 and RD30 or RD90, or designated placement test scores. Offered fall, spring and summer terms.

Entrepreneurship

Acquaints students with the principles, terminology, and practical concepts related to the field of small business and entrepreneurship. Students will be able to describe the entrepreneur’s mind set, define the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs and debunk common myths about them, and identify sources of successful business ideas. Students will also be able to differentiate among various small business entry strategies, assess marketing techniques used by entrepreneurs, compare/contrast sources of financing, and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of franchising as a means of starting a business. The culminating project in this class is an interview with a local entrepreneur and a formal, written summary of that interview.Prerequisites: BT114 or WR121 and RD30 or RD90. Offered spring term.

Writing a Business Plan (Capstone)

This final capstone project allows students to integrate the four functional areas of business (accounting, finance, management, and marketing) by creating and presenting a fully developed, professional business plan and competitive strategy. The final business plan will follow the format of standard business plans, including the executive summary, company description, industry analysis, management plan, marketing plan, operational plan and financial plan. Students will also orally present their business plans to the class, using appropriate technology. Students will learn to work with other stakeholders in refining their plans through interviews with relevant local businesses, business associations and peer review.Prerequisites: BA101, BA131, BA212 and BA223; BA109 may be taken concurrently. Offered spring term.